Return the Favor is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Spree (Choose one or more additional costs.) +— Copy target instant spell, sorcery spell, activated ability, or triggered ability. You may choose new targets for the copy. +
How it works : Return the Favor
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied spell or ability is modal (that is, it says "Choose one —" or the like), the copy will have the same mode or modes. You can't choose different ones.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
The copy made by the effect of Return the Favor's first mode is created on the stack, so it's not "cast" or "activated."
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a spell with spree is determined only by its mana cost (in the upper right corner of the card). It doesn't matter which modes you choose or which additional costs you pay, including any additional costs imposed by other effects.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If the copied spell or ability divides damage or distributes counters among a number of targets, the division and number of targets can't be changed. If you choose new targets, you must choose the same number of targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Each additional cost and associated mode in the text box is also preceded with a + indicator. These symbols also have no rules meaning and serve only to remind players that the listed costs are additional costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect allows you to cast a spell with spree "without paying its mana cost," you must still choose at least one mode and pay the associated additional costs.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
You choose the modes as you cast the spell with spree. Once modes are chosen, they can't be changed.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #8· Wizards of the Coast
You don't choose the new target for the spell or ability targeted with Return the Favor's second mode until Return the Favor resolves. You must change the target if possible. However, you can't change the target to an illegal target. If there are no legal targets to choose from, the target isn't changed. It doesn't matter if the original target has somehow become illegal itself.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #9· Wizards of the Coast
No player can cast spells or activate abilities in between the modes of a resolving spell. Any abilities that trigger won't be put onto the stack until the spell is done resolving.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #10· Wizards of the Coast
Spells with spree have a + (plus sign) indicator in the upper right corner of the card frame. This has no rules meaning and serves only to remind players that at least one additional cost is required to cast the spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #11· Wizards of the Coast
If all targets for the chosen modes become illegal before a spell with spree resolves, the spell won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. If at least one target is still legal, the spell will resolve but will have no effect on any illegal targets.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #12· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy an activated ability with the first mode, and the activation cost includes a choice, such as a creature to sacrifice or a number of counters to remove, the copy uses that same information. You can't pay the cost again, even if you want to.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #13· Wizards of the Coast
No matter which modes you choose, you always follow the instructions in the order they are written.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #14· Wizards of the Coast
The copy created by the effect of Return the Favor's first mode will have the same targets as the spell or ability it's copying unless you choose new ones. You may change any number of the targets, including all of them or none of them. The new targets must be legal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #15· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell that's copied has an X whose value was determined as it was cast, the copy will have the same value of X. The same is true for an ability that's copied and an X whose value was determined as the ability was activated.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #16· Wizards of the Coast
You must choose at least one of the listed modes and pay its associated additional cost in order to cast a spell with spree.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #17· Wizards of the Coast
If a mode requires a target, you can select that mode only if there's a legal target available. Ignore the targeting requirements for modes you don't choose.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #18· Wizards of the Coast
If you copy a spell with the first mode, you can't choose to pay any additional costs for the copy. However, effects based on any additional costs that were paid for the original spell are copied as though those same costs were paid for the copy too.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #19· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell or ability targets multiple things, you can't target it with Return the Favor's second mode, even if all but one of those targets have become illegal.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #20· Wizards of the Coast
If a spell with spree is copied, the effect that creates the copy may allow you to choose new targets. You cannot choose new modes.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #21· Wizards of the Coast
You can't choose the same mode more than once.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Popular combos
Real combos played by the community, sorted by popularity.
Narset's Reversal + Return the Favor
- 1Cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying
plus an additional to choose its first mode, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1. - 3Cast Narset's Reversal by paying
, copying Return the Favor targeting the spell cast in step 1 and returning the original Return the Favor to your hand. - 4Cast Return the Favor by paying its mana cost, copying the copy of Return the Favor, targeting the copy of Return the Favor.
- 5Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, creating a copy of Return the Favor targeting the copy of Return the Favor.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Pyromancer's Goggles + Return the Favor
- 1Cast any instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, activate Pyromancer's Goggles by tapping it, adding .
- 3Cast Return the Favor by paying its mana cost, choosing its first mode, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1.
- 4Pyromancer's Goggles triggers, copying Return the Favor, with the copy targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 5Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, creating a copy of Return the Favor targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Prismari, the Inspiration + Return the Favor
- 1Cast any other instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying its mana cost, targeting the instant or sorcery cast in step 1.
- 3Return the Favor's storm ability triggers, creating at least one copy of Return the Favor targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 4Resolve a copy of Return the Favor, copying Return the Favor targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 5Repeat step 4.
Alania, Divergent Storm + Return the Favor
- 1Cast the additional sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Alania triggers; choose not to have an opponent draw a card.
- 3Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying , targeting the additional sorcery.
- 4Alania triggers, causing an opponent to draw a card and you to copy Return the Favor, with the copy targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 5Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, copying the original Return the Favor, with the copy targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 6Repeat step 5.
Arcane Bombardment + Prismari Command + Return the Favor
- 1Cast any other instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost, triggering Arcane Bombardment.
- 2Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying and then choosing to pay an additional to select its first mode, copying the Arcane Bombardment trigger.
- 3Resolve the copy of the Arcane Bombardment trigger, exiling Return the Favor from your graveyard and then copying Return the Favor, Prismari Command and all other cards exiled by Arcane Bombardment, and allowing you to cast those copies without paying their mana costs.
- 4As you cast the Return the Favor copy, choose to pay an additional to select its first mode, targeting the Arcane Bombardment trigger.
- 5Resolve the copy of Prismari Command, creating a Treasure token and choosing any other mode.
- 6Activate the Treasure by tapping and sacrificing it, adding .
- 7Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, copying the Arcane Bombardment trigger.
- 8Repeat from step 3.
Kalamax, the Stormsire + Return the Favor
- 1Cast any sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying its mana cost.
- 3Kalamax's first and second abilities trigger.
- 4Resolve the first ability, creating a copy of Return the Favor and choosing to copy the original Return the Favor.
- 5Resolve the second ability, putting a +1/+1 counter on Kalamax.
- 6Resolve the Return the Favor copy, creating a copy of Return the Favor.
- 7Kalamax's second ability triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on itself.
- 8Repeat from step 6 any number of times.
Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker + Return the Favor + Dualcaster Mage
- 1Activate Kiki-Jiki by tapping it, targeting any nonlegendary creature you control.
- 2Holding priority, cast Return the Favor by paying , choosing its first mode, targeting Kiki-Jiki's ability.
- 3Holding priority, cast Dualcaster Mage by paying .
- 4When Dualcaster Mage enters the battlefield, it triggers, copying Return the Favor, targeting Kiki-Jiki's ability.
- 5Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, copying Kiki-Jiki's ability, targeting Dualcaster Mage.
- 6Resolve the copy of Kiki-Jiki's ability, creating a token copy of Dualcaster Mage with haste.
- 7Repeat from step 4.
Adaptive Training Post + Return the Favor
- 1Cast the additional instant or sorcery by paying its mana cost.
- 2If Adaptive Training Post had two charge counters on it, it triggers, putting a charge counter on it.
- 3Holding priority, activate Adaptive Training Post by removing three charge counters from it, copying the next instant or sorcery spell you cast this turn.
- 4Cast Return the Favor by paying its mana cost, targeting the spell cast in step 1.
- 5Adaptive Training Post triggers, copying Return the Favor, with the copy targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 6Resolve the copy of Return the Favor, copying the original Return the Favor, with the copy targeting the original Return the Favor.
- 7Repeat step 5.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Return the Favor
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.